10 quick, easy and healthy kids’ snacks for under $10

If your kids are anything like my kids, they are either always hungry or don’t want to eat what is put in front of them. Especially when it comes to snacks!

Getting their main meals ready is not such a challenge for me, as they largely eat what the adults eat. My real struggle has been getting fun and healthy snacks ready for them to eat right after school, or use as tummy filler if the dinner is late.

And another thing – I am not the best, or the most patient cook in the world. So I need recipes that are quick and easy, yet healthy and tasty.

Here are 8 family favourites that work for me and my kids. Why don’t you give these tried and tested recipes a go too?

Recipe #1 – Crunchy Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

Sometimes when you are feeling indulgent, prepare this little treat for your kids. It’s wholesome and full of oats, which is great for your kids.

Superfood: Oatmeal

What you need:

• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup butter
• 2/3 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
• 1/2 cup dried raisins

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C
   
2. Whisk together both kinds of flour and baking powder in a large bowl
3. In another bowl, whisk together butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla
4. Stir and combine the two mixtures
5. Mix in oats and dried raisins
6. Using two tablespoons of dough per cookie, roll them into balls and place it on two baking sheets lined with baking paper
7. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until lightly browned
8. Let them cool for 5 minutes and they are ready to be munched on!

Recipe #2 – Devilled Eggs

This classic is a family favourite and works as well for kids as it does with adults.

Superfood: Egg

What you need:

• 6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
  
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 1/2 tsp ground mustard
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper

What you do:

1. Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Take out the yolks and mash with fork
2. Stir in the mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper into the masked yolks
3. Fill whites with egg yolk mixture, heaping it slightly & served

Recipe #3 – Yummy Egg Muffins

This recipe hardly takes anytime and is a great snack to eat hot out of the over or out of a box on the go. It is very versatile as you can add in different ingredients to make what your kids love.

Superfood: Egg

What your need:

• 1 dozen eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• Non-stick cooking spray or vegetable oil, to coat pans
• 1 cup frozen or fresh spinach
• 1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded cheese (either cheddar or parmesan)

What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C
2. Whisk the eggs together with salt
3. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray
4. Divide spinach, mushrooms, green onion, and cheese between each muffin cup, then carefully pour eggs over tops until muffin tins are almost full (leave 1/4-inch space)
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. The egg muffins will look like soufflé when they come out of the oven, but they will sink after a few minutes.
6. Ready to serve!

Recipe #4 – Guacamole

It took a little while for my kids to learn to appreciate the taste and texture of this dish, but it took a little tweaking and finally I managed the version that they love. Pair it their favourite nachos or sandwiches and I bet you the kids will be begging for more.

Superfood: Avocado

What you need:

• 2 large ripe avocados
• 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium tomato, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin, or to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped coriander
• 1/2 tsp salt

What you do:

1. Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits
2. Scoop out the flesh with a spoon into a bowl
3. Mash the flesh till it is a smooth in texture
4. Add the onion, tomato, lime juice, cumin, coriander and salt
5. Serve it as a dip with nacho chips or vegetables sticks!

Recipe #5 – Sweet Potato Bites

There is no other food in the world that is more comforting that a crispy potato bite! Here is a much healthier version of it, using sweet potatoes. They go down a treat with the kids in my household. Eat them hot and crispy for that yummy satisfaction.

Superfood: Sweet Potato

What you need:

• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• Non-stick cooking spray or vegetable oil, to coat pans

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C
2. Boil sweet potatoes in a pot of salted water for 10-15 minutes or soft
3. Drain and cool
4. Mash the sweet potatoes into a bowl
5. In a separate bowl, combine flour, panko and cinnamon and mix well
6. Whisk the egg in another bowl.
7. Take a small amount of the sweet potato mixture and shape into a tot. Freeze the tots for at least 30 minutes.
8. Roll the tot the whisked egg and then coat it with the flour/panko mixture.
9. Grease the baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and place the tot on it.
10. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Alternatively, shallow fry in vegetable oil.
11. Cool and serve.

Click on the next page to find out what some of the other superfoods are and how you can whip them up into healthy and delicious snacks for your kids.

Recipe #6 – Berry Berry Creamy Popsicles

This a yummy treat that is perfect to give a boost of love and energy to the young ones (and the not so young ones) after a particularly long and busy day.

Superfood: Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries

What you need:

• 250gms berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) roughly chopped
• 250gms cream cheese cut into chunks
• 60gms Greek style yogurt
• 5 tbsp honey

What you do:

1. Take a food blender and blend the berries till they form a thick puree
2. Add in the cream cheese, yogurt, honey and blend again until smooth & well combined
3. Pour the mixture into the popsicle moulds
4. Fold in some chopped berries if you want
5. Freeze for 4-6 hours and it’s ready to serve

Recipe #7 – Rainbow Fruit Sticks

This snack is actually as much fun to prepare and present as it is to eat. My kids love all the yummy flavours, the colours and shapes. Sometimes, we even have battles with our fruit spears – but at the end the tummies are the real winners!

What you need:

• Fruits of your children’s choice: grapes, melons, watermelon, pineapple, kiwis and mango
• Satay sticks
• Cookie cutters of various shapes

What you do:

1. Cut the fruit into different shapes such as hearts and stars using the cookie cutters
2. Spear them onto the satay sticks & it’s ready to serve

Note: You can add in pieces of cheese in the middle of the spears to add in a bit of flavour and give the kids that extra protein and fat.

Recipe #8 – Mango & Banana Smoothie

This one takes almost as little time to make as it takes to drink! A favourite of the kids and great for an energy boost.

Superfood: Banana

What you need:

• One medium sized mango
• One banana
• 500 ml orange juice
• Ice cubes

What you do:

1. Dice the mango into small chunks
2. Peel and chop the banana into slices
3. Add the mango & banana along with the orange juice & ice cubes into a blender until smooth and thick
4. Ready to serve

Recipe #9 – Ham-and-Apple Wraps

This no-cook snack recipe has been passed down the last three generations in my family. It is easy-peasy-lemon squeasy to prepare and yet packs a punch in terms of nutrition.

What you need:

• One green apple, sliced into 8 with the core removed
• 8 slices of ham
• 8 strips of cheese (optional)
• 8 toothpicks to skewer it

What you do:

1. Slice the ham into 2 inches wide strips.
2. Place the cheese strips on top of it
3. Wrap the ham and cheese around a slice of apple and skewer with a tooth pick
4. Ready to serve

Recipe #10 – Cheater’s sushi

Surprisingly a lot of kids love sushi, but it is not the easiest thing in the world to make for many of us. Here is a cheater’s version of it for you.

What you need:

• Cucumber sliced into sticks
• Carrot sliced into sticks
• 2 slices of sandwich bread
• Cream cheese spread
  (3 tablespoons cream cheese mixed with 1 1/2 tablespoons sour cream)

What you do:

1. Flatten the bread slices with a rolling pin
2. Spread cream-cheese mixture over slices
3. Place 2 carrot and 2 cucumber sticks at the bottom of each slice
4. Roll up bread, pressing gently to seal, then cut each roll into 4 equal pieces
5. Ready to serve

Did I forget to mention that my one-stop-shop for everything I need, right from the fruits, vegetables, cheeses, crackers to the baking sheets and satay sticks is FairPrice? I get everything that I need at one place and at amazing prices.

For more ideas on fun things to cook up for your family, amazing recipes or articles, do visit and sign up at FairPrice’s For Mothers Portal.